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PrintThe Misfortune of Barack Obama
News Type: Opinion — Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:22 PM EDT
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Many questions still remain unanswered, as the Iowa Caucus draws near and candidates vie for publicity. There has been a groundswell of support around the nation for Senator Barack Obama. However, as the primaries wind down many of his polices are still shrouded in mysticism. Nevertheless, he marches on offering a vision of peace and tranquility, as if he is imbued with and Excalibur like aura. However, Hillary Clinton leads, in the primary, by double digits over Obama, and will likely be the democratic nominee. What Barrack Obama can learn in the next several months will be invaluable to his future.
A Senator Obama supporter might describe a speech by the Senator as "magical" or "up lifting in hard times", and hundreds of people strain their ears to hear the Senator speak. It is hard to contemplate the charisma and charm that Obama carries with him on his shoulders; it is a politicians dream. However, charm and charisma can only carry someone so far until experience becomes a factor.
At the start of his campaign he championed himself as an agent of change and told the world that it was an experienced administration that led the United States into the Iraq war. This play to diminish the question of experience has largely been successful and has drawn a considerable amount of support. Nevertheless, the calculated image that Senator Obama is portraying in the media and in his campaign has started to erode. In recent interviews he has shied away from questions and concerns much like a politician at a press conference. All politicians are very careful or their words in public, but many lack the motivation and timidity to reach beyond their elected seats; Barack Obama is an exception.
Senator Barrack Obama entered the primaries touting the need for universal healthcare, educational opportunities, and ending the war in Iraq. Many of his policies lack specific details, and he remains distant with the voters with regards to many of his programs. While last week, Senator Clinton released the details of her healthcare proposal to the public. Furthermore, her views on specific rights and policies are well documented given her role as a senator and first lady of the United States. In recent weeks, Senator Obama has side stepped many strong questions about his plan for universal healthcare and he has failed to outline his steps for withdrawal out of Iraq. American citizens want direct and detailed answers on policy questions. If Senator Barack Obama wants the Democratic Party's nomination then he must start giving various details about his political stances.
As we approach the last year before the presidential elections, there is a small chance that the democratic nominee will not be Hillary Clinton. She has a substantial lead over Barack Obama. However, all is not in vain for Senator Obama. His campaign has brought him into prominence. Before the primaries, how often did you hear the name Barack Obama?
The groundswell of support through the grass roots campaign and stump speeches that Senator Obama has amassed can be realigned into a run for a governorship of a state. Statistically, governors have been elected president more times than senators. As a governor Barack Obama would acquire, the much needed, experience. He could be a formidable candidate in 2012 or 2016.
Barack Obama has had the misfortune of choosing to run against one of the most widely known and able politicians, Hillary Clinton. Barack Obama has shown the nation that he has what it takes to survive a national election. He has garnered support from much of the public and generates and enduring quality among generation X. Nevertheless, the eventual nominee, Hillary Clinton, overshadows his campaign and image.
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- Public Discussion (21)
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{"commentId":1114359,"authorDomain":"beatpanda"}
I'm getting extremely tired of this "no one knows what Obama stands for" garbage.
A visit to the "issues" section of his campaign website should clear a lot of this up.
If you can't be bothered, here are some highlights-
-Immediate withdrawal from Iraq to re-focus on rooting out Al-Qaeda strongholds elsewhere in the Middle East
-An ingenious health care plan that simultaneously regulates and leverages the power of the private insurance market
-Tax cuts to the middle class and seniors
-A 100% auction of pollution rights to pay for research into alternative energy
-Curbing agricultural subsidies to agribusiness firms that don't need them
The list goes on and on. He's got the best policy team in the field (Democrat, Republican, or otherwise), and they've been churning out more and better policy papers earlier than any of his rivals. Please don't believe this "empty suit" tripe. Go and read what he stands for, and check out his voting record while you're at it.
{"commentId":1114359,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"beatpanda"}
- 2 votes
#1 - Fri Oct 19, 2007 6:29 PM EDT{"commentId":1114366,"authorDomain":"kylew"}
{"commentId":1116622,"authorDomain":"mmcdermo"}
Thanks for your post beatpanda.
Although the media does not cover every waking move that the candidates make (contrary to popular belief), public details do actually exist, as you have correctly informed us. Specifically in this case, Senator Obama has made numerous public policy speeches to the public but they rarely receive coverage. The failure to cover them is not the same as not publicly addressing them.
I definitely understand your frustrations though. I often wonder how all the candidates deal with how the media covers the presidential races. That is why I am an active supporter of my particular candidate: making phone calls, talking with friends, family, and even strangers. We usually do not remain strangers for long though. : D
My biggest complaint about the state of our politics in this country is how ideological driven and close-minded people become at some point. I am not a blind-supporter of a candidate or a particular party. I know every candidate has flaws, though some acknowledge it while others pretend negatives are just about conspiracies.
But yeah, for the record....
GOBAMA '08 UNTIL '16! (the time is now)
I'm fired up beatpanda. I'm ready to go beatpanda. I know you are too. So let us to continue to work on the ground (from the bottom up) while Obama leads us (from the top down). Together, we are changing the world. We've got ripples coming from everywhere... soon, people will realize its actually a tsunami!
{"commentId":1116622,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"mmcdermo"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1116688,"authorDomain":"spotlightdiva"}
I've read both of Obama's books and also beg to differ on the argument that he has neglected to outline his policy initiatives. For instance, just in The Audacity of Hope Obama clearly states many of his intentions and visions for the future of America, he has also commented on his positions in a variety of magazines as well (i.e. Vanity Fair). As some of you have argued, the mainstream media may not have publicized his views as much as they have others like Hillary.
But, one of the qualities that I actually find most endearing about Obama, is that even when he does address the issues head-on and gives his agenda, he is still open to the ideas of others. He knows what he wants to accomplish, but he is open to hearing about other opportunities for reaching his end objective. This propensity for compromise is the mark of a true, genuine, mature leader. It's something that Washington has been lacking for years now and with Barack Obama at the helm, we might actually get something done for once and not be bogged down by the same beauracracy and politics of the past 12 years.
{"commentId":1116688,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"spotlightdiva"}
{"commentId":1115023,"authorDomain":"mmcdermo"}
Why would anyone ... at this point in time ... claim that Senator Obama has not specified details surrounding his policy decisions? Maybe YOU are unsure of the details because you depend on the media to hand you everything.
This is a huge mistake and does a great disservice to America.
There is no way that your lack of knowledge represents Senator Obama's entire presidential campaign - please do not speak in such absolutes. It also make you look less then informed than you would probably like. Many people know your claims are baseless or ignorant, thus you immediately loss credibility.
I'm just curious though: did you take the advice of beatpanda? For the love of our country, and your own credibility, please go and research the answers you seek. I can assure you that the details you seek have been available for quite some time. Once you've found the answers, I hope you have the courage and decency to post your findings.
As an American, I have the duty to discuss such matters with those who are unaware. I think beatpanda did what responsible citizens should do: educate others. Here is a synopsis of the answers you seek:
IRAQ WITHDRAWAL PLAN DETAILS: < > < >
UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE DETAILS: < >
TAX CUT PLAN DETAILS:
< >
< >
I hope these are the answers satisfy your search.
{"commentId":1115023,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"mmcdermo"}
#2 - Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:11 AM EDT{"commentId":1115040,"authorDomain":"mmcdermo"}
{"commentId":1115633,"authorDomain":"kylew"}
Thank you for you comments, however I feel that the center of my message has been missed. I know Barack Obama has specifics of his policies on his website, however he has not publicly voiced his specifics as he should have. The premise of my article is that Barack Obama will be a good candidate for 2008 or 2016.
{"commentId":1115633,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"kylew"}
- 1 vote
#4 - Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:49 AM EDT{"commentId":1116601,"authorDomain":"mmcdermo"}
That's where you are less than accurate. Senator Obama has been extremely public with his policy details. The issue you are referring to is in media coverage. The information is there to be read/heard/seen but it is not always covered in the mass media.
I also do not understand your logic: How does one say that Senator Obama has not specified his plans/the public is unaware of his stances TO saying he hasn't publicly voiced them and thus he'd make a good candidate in another election??
I am sorry but you are flat wrong. You never even mention specific on where you obtained your 'facts'. I.E. where/when did Senator Obama "side step questions about his plan for universal healthcare"? He has COMPLETELY outlined his steps for withdrawal out of Iraq.
KYLEW: I do not know why you are ignoring facts but again, for the love of our country, please post your findings on all questions you raised.
The biggest and clearest examples of his public outreach and detailing his proposal in public are easy to see! I.E. Going to the Big 3 Automakers and telling them where he stands, where he intends to lead us, why and how. He did the same thing by going to traditionally Republican strong-holds and told them straight up what he thought, why, how, etc . . . but did it in such a way as to not make villains out of the audience. These are just a few examples.
I would ask you, again and again, where have you been looking for your information? The media, obviously, cannot and does not cover every thing. Just because you didn't see his proposal outlined on CNN or MSNBC or something doesn't mean he didn't/doesn't do it.
One reason HRC got so press/public coverage of her health care proposal is because she is known for the failure of a mess she attempted in the 90s. The articles/post have to sell... the Clinton name and all its connotation will sell.
I encourage you to post some of the links of Obama's policy speeches that interest you.
Thanks
{"commentId":1116601,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"mmcdermo"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1116652,"authorDomain":"kylew"}
{"commentId":1116764,"authorDomain":"mmcdermo"}
There are tangents in his posts but I feel they are relevant.
I truly understand your position on the role of campaigns in spreading their message. Remember the headlines from a few months ago? Obama all style and not substance. Now he's got all the substance one can handle yet gets less than responsible coverage for a presidential race.
I, too, get information from all types of media but I was able to realize the huge gap in coverage and current events when doing my own research. At that point I went away from mass media dependency to actually seeking information on my own from governmental websites, CSPAN, their campaign websites, etc. Not just on Senator Obama but on Senator Clinton and others.
I also understand your feeling of "if you want me, come get me" attitude. But think about it. The media is a third party, disseminating information selectively and often with bias. Another sad part of this story is not necessarily the lack of coverage on Obama, but rather people not taking the time for themselves to think and search for factual statements rather than simply being unknowingly misled by news articles. When this happens, people begin to say such things as Edwards must be slipping away because he hasn't been on CNN in a while. There is only so much you can do in the media when you're running against a name. It's like comparing Nike to Converse. One simply has more recognition.
On the other hand, though, when is the last time you simply sat and waited for someone to come knock on your door and offer you a job? You have to actively seek it first.
Senator Obama is focusing heavily on the best media outlet there is: American Citizens. More specifically, his efforts to talk DIRECTLY to people is a better way of getting his message out then depending on the media to cover the policies and than cover it accurately. Right now, the campaign has not gone national...this is not the general election yet. So the focus has been on a few key states. If you want more answers at this point, you're going to have to go get them yourself. If you want to be informed, involved, then you'll have to take that initiative too. I think it is important to reflect on where the campaigns are actively competing. Polls are deceptive, at best, but national posts are not the target of most campaigns at this point.
As far as managerial experience goes, Senator Obama was president of the most prestigious law review journal in the country (Harvard). A deeper look reveals something more, however. Republicans have more collective managerial experience than everyone on the democratic side. Being First lady doesn't count...ask Laura Bush. Basically, your concerns should not rest with Obama alone.
....just some thoughts....
{"commentId":1116764,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"mmcdermo"}
{"commentId":1117000,"authorDomain":"kylew"}
{"commentId":1118104,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}
Interesting read.
{"commentId":1118104,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}
- 1 vote
#5 - Sun Oct 21, 2007 3:13 PM EDT{"commentId":1118125,"authorDomain":"kylew"}
{"commentId":1118145,"authorDomain":"spotlightdiva"}
Political campaigns are just like selling a product. A campaign needs to present their candidate to the public in the best possible image.
As a student of public relations and politics, I understand this thought-process. And in a sense, yes, this is what a political campaign aims to do: "sell" their candidate. However, the big difference between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton (along with the rest of the field) is that he is not just about "selling" himself. He's about being real, and admitting that no ONE PERSON has the answer to all of America's problems. He's about being realistic in that he can't promise that EVERYTHING Americans want to see come to pass will. What Barack Obama does do is commit himself to the task of doing everything in power to see that we make progress. That we take steps forward to meet our goals, and that we stop allowing our government to get bogged down in beauracracy and politics.
If you believe that his campaign is truly based in "mysticism" and idealistic visions...then you are sorely mistaken. The media pick up on comments he makes that are idealistic solely because they sell. The American public eats up that kind of commentary and wants easy to dissolve material (believe it or not the majority of American's aren't looking for substance!). Barack Obama does have plans, they may not all have carefully planned out steps...but they have objectives...and Barack Obama, more than any other politician, knows how to reach those objectives. You want to talk about experience, he spent years as a community organizer rallying groups of people together for causes that had previously been stagnant. He worked within the Illinois legislature, getting things done in a beauracratic system that had seen better days. Barack Obama truly does bring hope and experience for change that no other politician in this upcoming race can offer.
Also, as being First Lady of the United States should count as experience, because she has a working knowledge of the Whitehouse, she has been there in the thicket of things.
I must say, Hillary Clinton has experience alright. More than you let on even here. She was not just a first lady, she was basically Bill Clinton's number one aide (not formally...but in reality). Take a chance to read George Stephanopolous' memoir All Too Human and you will realize just how much political devising went into Bill Clinton's tenure and just how involved Hillary was. I won't say I didn't like Bill Clinton...I did, but it's not like there wasn't anything wrong with the way he (and Hillary) did politics...
If you want to talk about someone "marketing" and "selling" themselves as a candidate to the public...Hillary is your girl. But the question is: how much of it is real, and how much of it is for show? Barack Obama is all real.
{"commentId":1118145,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"spotlightdiva"}
#6 - Sun Oct 21, 2007 3:30 PM EDT{"commentId":1118195,"authorDomain":"kylew"}
{"commentId":1118440,"authorDomain":"spotlightdiva"}
Barack Obama is a politician. He carefully crafts his statements and answers questions in a politicians nuance and tone. In this age of political rhetoric there is nothing real.
Yes, Barack Obama is a politician. Yes, he is an eloquent speaker and carefully "crafts" his statements. However, the fact that he has been making these same types of statements for years (long before he had any politicial ambitions...nonetheless ambitions towards the presidency) makes his claims much more real than any other politician's.
{"commentId":1118440,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"spotlightdiva"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1118476,"authorDomain":"kylew"}
{"commentId":1118363,"authorDomain":"bluejohnnyd"}
I like Obama, overall. My actual views are a bit more closely aligned with Kucinich, but he's screwed himself with some ill-considered statements. At any rate, whether or not he runs for governor, he would make a very formidable candidate in '16, or even '12; he could still run on the same message as he has, ut people will have more awareness of his actual stances and 'experience' will be less of an issue. Heck, JFK was elected after only four years in the Senate.
{"commentId":1118363,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"bluejohnnyd"}
#7 - Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:01 PM EDT{"commentId":1118374,"authorDomain":"kylew"}
I consider JFK one of counties best presidents, but it has been over forty years since he was elected.
{"commentId":1118374,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"kylew"}
- 1 vote
#8 - Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:07 PM EDT{"commentId":1119829,"authorDomain":"mmcdermo"}
I was thinking.... would anyone agree that Senator Obama plans to decrease the level of partisanship on the national level?
{"commentId":1119829,"threadId":"164385","contentId":"1036169","authorDomain":"mmcdermo"}
#9 - Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:52 AM EDT{"canLink":false,"threadId":"164385","isPrivate":false}
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